[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 72 (Thursday, April 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17762-17763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8723]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2009-0001-N-8]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its 
implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently 
approved information collection activities. Before submitting these 
information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on 
specific aspects of the activities identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than June 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of 
Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590, or Ms. Nakia Jackson, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 
35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge 
receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB control number ------.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6216 or (202) 493-6497, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at 
[email protected], or to Ms. Jackson at [email protected]. 
Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence 
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this 
notice in a subsequent notice and include them in its information 
collection submission to OMB for approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning 
and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 
(202) 493-6292) or Ms. Nakia Jackson, Office of Information Technology, 
RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 
Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6073). (These 
telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13, 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 
U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR Part 1320, 
require Federal agencies to provide 60-days notice to the public for 
comment on information collection activities before seeking approval 
for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites 
interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed 
information collection activities regarding (i) whether the information 
collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its 
functions, including whether the activities will have practical 
utility; (ii) the accuracy of FRA's estimates of the burden of the 
information collection activities, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used to determine the estimates; (iii) ways 
for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of 
information collection activities on the public by automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)-(iv); 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1)(I)-(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will 
promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens 
associated with the collection of information mandated by Federal 
regulations. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will 
advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure 
that it organizes information collection requirements in a ``user 
friendly'' format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) 
accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce 
information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    Below are brief summaries of three currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Grade Crossing Signal System Safety Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0534.
    Abstract: FRA believes that highway-rail grade crossing (grade 
crossing) accidents resulting from warning system failures can be 
reduced. Motorists lose faith in warning systems that constantly warn 
of an oncoming train when none is present. Therefore, the fail-safe 
feature of a warning system loses its effectiveness if the system is 
not repaired within a reasonable period of time. A greater risk of an 
accident is present when a warning system fails to activate as a train 
approaches a grade crossing. FRA's regulations require railroads to 
take specific responses in the event of an activation failure. FRA uses 
the information to develop better solutions to the problems of grade 
crossing device malfunctions. With this information, FRA is able to 
correlate accident data and equipment malfunctions with the types of 
circuits and age of equipment. FRA can then identify the causes of 
grade crossing system failures and investigate them to

[[Page 17763]]

determine whether periodic maintenance, inspection, and testing 
standards are effective. FRA also uses the information collected to 
alert railroad employees and appropriate highway traffic authorities of 
warning system malfunctions so that they can take the necessary 
measures to protect motorists and railroad workers at the grade 
crossing until repairs have been made.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.83.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; recordkeeping.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Average time
         CFR Section              Respondent       Total annual    per response    Total annual    Total annual
                                   universe         responses          (min)       burden hours     burden cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
234.7--Telephone Notification  685 railroads...  4 phone calls..              15               1             $35
234.9--Grade crossing signal   685 railroads...  600 reports....              15             150           5,250
 system failure rpts.
234.9--Notification to train   685 railroads...  24,000                        5           2,000          70,000
 crew and highway traffic                         notifications.
 control authority.
234.9-Recordkeeping..........  685 railroads...  12,000 records.              10           2,000          70,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Responses: 36,604.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 4,151 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0535.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Section 20139 of Title 49 of the United States Code 
required FRA to issue rules, regulations, orders, and standards for the 
safety of maintenance-of-way employees on railroad bridges, including 
for ``bridge safety equipment'' such as nets, walkways, handrails, and 
safety lines, and requirements for the use of vessels when work is 
performed on bridges located over bodies of water. FRA has added 49 CFR 
Part 214 to establish minimum workplace safety standards for railroad 
employees as they apply to railroad bridges. Specifically, section 
214.15(c) establishes standards and practices for safety net systems. 
Safety nets and net installations are to be drop-tested at the job site 
after initial installation and before being used as a fall-protection 
system; after major repairs; and at six-month intervals if left at one 
site. If a drop-test is not feasible and is not performed, then a 
written certification must be made by the railroad or railroad 
contractor, or a designated certified person, that the net does comply 
with the safety standards of this section. FRA and State inspectors use 
the information to enforce Federal regulations. The information that is 
maintained at the job site promotes safe bridge worker practices.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Responses: 6.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 1 hour.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Title: Railroad Police Officers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0537.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads and States.
    Form(s): None.
    Abstract: Under 49 CFR Part 207, railroads are required to notify 
states of all designated police officers who are discharging their 
duties outside of their respective jurisdictions. This requirement is 
necessary to verify proper police authority.
    Total Estimated Responses: 70.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 181 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), 
1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA informs all interested parties that it may not 
conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

     Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 10, 2009.
Kimberly Orben,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E9-8723 Filed 4-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P